Descendant & Birthright by Nichole Giles

Nichole Giles is my YA paranormal fantasy goddess. Her writing is divine.

This is one trilogy that won't disappoint. And we're only into book 2!

I hope she is madly writing and publishing the third one because I have high expectations based on the first two.

In Descendant she builds the romantic relationship between Abby and Kye, which between normal teenagers is difficult enough. But they have the added challenges of having loved and lost each other over lifetimes, their Gifts, and the curse that dooms them to death for their love. Pretty much sucks to be them.

Despite all this, Abby never gives up hope of breaking the curse and being with Kye. And you root for them. You want them to over come the curse.

Oh, and did I mention there's an evil Lord trapped in another dimension who wants to destroy the world, demons trying to kill Abby, Kye, and all others Gifted, and mad chases across the U.S.? It's enough to make a person exhausted. Good thing they are teens.

Characters are well constructed, likable, and show incredible growth. The writing is solid and the story line well crafted. I was especially intrigued by the use of chakras, crystals, and herbs by Abby. That takes some research. I really liked the use of Abby seeing visions of her past life.

In Birthright, Abby faces a new set of problems. The more time she and Kye spend together, the faster they die, but being apart is physical agony. And you thought your love story was twisted! To save themselves, they must be apart. The cruel irony of it are. So, Abby gets shipped off to Mexico to recover, fight demons and trap them for eternity, and decide if loving Kye and breaking the curse are worth it.  Heavy stuff.

All that I said about the first is true of this one too. Abby is a girl you can get behind. And the supporting characters are just as rich in character and emotion as the main ones. That's good writing.

As far as rating/parental concerns: there is some violence (we have bad guys after all) consisting of a few punches and kicks. A few kisses. No language. And I applaud the stance the mom, Kye and Abby take on no sex. 13 and up I'd say.

Add these to your summer reading list.

Descendant

Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted. 

Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul. 

Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.

http://www.amazon.com/Descendant-Nichole-Giles-ebook/dp/B00FWF53AU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402079146&sr=8-1&keywords=nichole+giles

Birthright

Two months ago, Abigail Johnson saved the life of the boy she believes is her destiny and defeated an army of demons that have pursued her ancestors for centuries. Now, she and Kye should be taking their place as leaders of the new generation of Gifted. But the curse they thought was broken has returned, and every minute together brings them closer to death. 

When remaining shadow demons attack again, the Dragons send Abby to Mexico. Being apart from Kye is slowly killing her soul, and it turns out she isn’t any safer here than she was back home. The shadows have tracked her, the locals expect her to help with their own demon problems, and the more time she spends away from Kye, the more she doubts the destiny that ties them together. 

When the demons destroy her safe house, Abby has no choice but to take the fight to them. But the arrival of an old nemesis throws their careful plans into disarray, and Abby and her friends find themselves facing new adversaries in a battle that turns fatal. This time, not everyone will make it out alive. 

http://www.amazon.com/Birthright-Descendant-Nichole-Giles-ebook/dp/B00JK1VECS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1402079146&sr=8-3&keywords=nichole+giles